Sandhill Crane At the start of week six, the wings and tail feathers are definitely growing into real feathers, pushing off the down. |
Sandhill Crane The stride casually covers a couple of feet, but on the run can span up to several feet at a time. |
Sandhill Crane Part of the daily routine are a huge number of naps. Another is about to start. |
Sandhill Crane The mandatory guard parent is also drowsy, but takes the opportunity of the pause to do a bit of careful grooming. |
Sandhill Crane Out of character in the daytime, a parent lays down to rest. Of course the juvenile gets up soon after that. |
Sandhill Crane A tired adult nods off, head swaying back and forth it starts to doze. |
Sandhill Crane Up again, waking the parent. The other parent stands nearby, doing the real guard duty. |
Sandhill Crane Finally up for another feeding stint, the juvenile goes through a few wing stretches to limber up. |
Sandhill Crane It spends a fair amount of time running from parent to parent when they offer morsels of food. |
Sandhill Crane This one looks like a live hornet. |
Sandhill Crane Synchronized strolling and eating. |
Sandhill Crane The almost independent juvenile leads the way. |
Sandhill Crane Lift off. Some vigorous flapping and a little jump and it gets off the ground a few inches. |
Sandhill Crane More flapping while attached to the earth. The vanishing down feathers on the ends of the flight feathers are quite visible. |
Sandhill Crane Tucking the wings back in. |
Sandhill Crane More food from a dutiful parent. |
Sandhill Crane The base of a tree in the shade proves interesting for awhile. |
Sandhill Crane Silhouette of the day. |
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